till the end of the line

35 The Carters

"I have to go."

I sighed as Steve stood up sharply and left before I looked over at a sleeping Angelina on Natasha's lap as I stood up, following him.

Walking out, I then found him at the bottom of the staircase. I walked down to him and then sighed as he began to tear up, "I know, I know. Come here."

I wrapped my arms around his torso as tears fell down his face. He cried on my shoulder and soon we were both in London, attending Peggy's funeral.

I left Angelina with Natasha as I left with Steve and Sam who accompanied us.

~

Sitting in the front row, I watched as Steve helped carry her coffin up to the front before he took a seat between Sam and myself.

The priest then walked up and let out a solemn breath before looking out to the people, "And now, I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and say a few words."

I looked up along with Sam as this lady walked up to the podium. Once we recognized her, we both nudged Steve as he looked up confused.

"Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD, but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy. She had a photograph in her office. Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid, that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to. Which is why I never told anyone we were related."

She looked at our group before making direct eye contact with Steve.

"I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage in a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either. And she said compromise where you can. But where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye and say 'No, you move.'"

I stayed quiet for most of the service until it ended when I waited outside with Sam.

Then Natasha walked up as I looked at her, "Where's Lina?"

"Don't worry, she's with Wanda and Vision back at the compound."

I nodded and motioned to the church, "He's still inside. Just tell him we'll be back at the hotel."

Giving me a hug, she nodded then walked in as Sam and I headed to the car as he drove us back to the hotel.

Once we arrived, we waited in the lobby when we realized that Steve was the only one with the key, "We are not that smart."

"Speak for yourself, I'm getting free lobby cakes out of this."

I chuckled as I pulled out a computer, turning on the live signing in Vienna.

"I am currently at a special United Nations conference, 117 countries have come together to ratify the Sokovia Accords."

Sam then came and sat down beside me as we watched. I then smirked and took a cake from him as I leaned back in the chair before we noticed Steve walk in with Sharon.

Sam went to stand up but I grabbed his arm and shook my head, "Leave him. Sharon might be good for him. I mean I don't like her but it's clear that he does."

He nodded and sat down as we both turned back to the screen.

"When stolen Wakandan vibranium was used to make a terrible weapon, we in Wakanda were forced to question our legacy. Those men and women killed in Nigeria were part of a goodwill mission from a country too long in the shadows. We will not, however, let misfortune drive us back. We will fight to improve the world we wish to join. I am grateful to the Avengers for supporting this initiative. Wakanda is proud to extend its hand in peace."

All of a sudden there was a shout as the prince appeared in the camera view, "EVERYBODY GET DOWN!"

I dropped the cake as we watched an enormous explosion going off in the building before the camera was cut off.

I stood grabbing my bag and closing the laptop as I pulled Sam up with me, "Go. Get Steve. Now."

He nodded, dropping his cake, and left before returning for the cake before he went, and grabbed Steve and Sharon, meeting me outside the room as he unlocked the door before I walked in and instantly turned on the tv.

"A bomb was hidden in a news van-"

"Who's coordinating?"

I started packing our bags as Sharon spoke on the phone while Sam and Steve watched the news.

"...ripped through the UN building in Vienna."

"Good. They're solid. Forensics?"

"More than 70 people have been injured. At least 12 are dead, including Wakanda's King T'Chaka. Officials have released a video of a suspect who they have identified as James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier."

I looked up from the bags and then at the screen as a photo of the suspect appeared, "The infamous HYDRA agent, linked to numerous acts of terrorism and political assassinations."

"Steve..."

Sharon sighed and then shut off her phone, "I have to go to work."

Once she left, I turned to the guys as Sam let out a breath, "What are we going to do? We didn't sign the treaty thing, we're basically fugitives."

I shook my head and turned off the tv, "I don't care. If it's Bucky, we're going to find him. I don't care how. I haven't given up and I'm not giving up now."

Steve nodded and soon we made our way down to Vienna as Sam and I waited inside a coffee shop while Steve made a call.

The man brought me a coffee and Sam a small muffin as I chuckled before Steve walked up to the counter beside me.

"Did she tell you to stay out of it?"

Sam finished his muffin and then shook his head, "Nat might have a point."

"He'd do it for me."

"1945, maybe. I just want to make sure we considered all our options. The people that shoot at you two usually wind up shooting at me."

I smirked and took a sip of my coffee before looking at him, "I'm bulletproof."

"Cap too?"

"Nah, just me. He had his shield though."

He scoffed and took my coffee from me as he rolled his eyes, "Lucky."

He finished my coffee as Sharon then showed up on the other side of Steve, "Tips have been pouring in since that footage went public. Everybody thinks the Winter Soldier goes to their gym. Most of its noise. Except for this."

She slid Steve a file as I reached over and grabbed it before I looked it over while she smacked her lips and continued, "My boss expects a briefing, pretty much now, so that's all the head start you're gonna get."

Steve elbowed me before looking up at her, "Thank you."

"And you're gonna have to hurry. We have orders to shoot on sight."

"Great more shooting."

I chuckled and we headed back out making our way to the listed apartment, in Bucharest, Romania. Suited up, Sam waited for his signal as Steve and I walked into the apartment, only to find it empty.

I looked around to see a single roughed-up bed as Steve turned around, finding a notebook on the fridge. He opened it up and I walked over to him, looking over his shoulder before I felt the same sensation as I turned around.

I looked him over and saw his black cap and casual jacket as I then met his eyes. He looked me over before I pulled down my mask as his eyes widened only slightly.

"Heads up, Cap n Kat. German Special Forces, approaching from the south. Ahh, I will never get tired of calling you two that."

I nodded as I kept the contact between Bucky and me, "Yeah, yeah. Shove off, Sam."

"You know, I thought you'd be nicer and more motherly, Kat, don't be so-" Steve turned around and stopped as he set the notebook down before Bucky took his eyes off me and looked at Steve.

"Do you know us?"